The waiting is almost over for horse racing fans. Turf Paradise, Arizona’s first sports franchise, opens its doors for its 61st season Saturday October 15th.

There will be a full card of live horse racing and free t-shirts for the first 5,000 paid admissions. There will also be live music, a kids’ fun park, and a barbecue tent.

Opening day’s feature race will be the $30,000 Bienvenidos Stakes

Gates open at 11am and the first post time is 12:55. As always Grandstand admission is $2 and general parking is free. Fans can watch and wager on races locally as well as on simulcasts from major racetracks from around the country.

Turf Paradise’s 61st seasons runs from October 15th to May 7th. Turf Paradise, located at 19th Ave and Bell Road, first opened its doors in 1956 and has operated at the same location ever since. It has maintained Arizona’s horse racing tradition for more than six decades.

Turf Paradise General Manager Vincent Francia said, “Turf Paradise is the place where the horses go fast and the dollar goes far. We are also proud to be carrying on the tradition of Arizona horse racing for a 7th decade. We look forward to welcoming a new generation of horse racing enthusiasts and welcoming back our loyal fans. ”

Who: Turf ParadiseWhat: Opening Day at Turf ParadiseWhen: October 15th Gates open at 11a.m.Where: Turf Paradise 1501 West Bell RoadWhy: To start the 61st season of horseracing in ArizonaHow Much: Grandstand admission is just $2More Info: Call (602) 942-1101/ Online www.turfparadise.com